The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-29

pnrl OF the farm snppllou win water
Then there are two fields which we use
for wheat oats, corn, potatoes, meadow
and clover. and we get as good crops
from them with less damage to the soil
rs we would If we tried to pasture them.
Onr two small lots are near the build
ings. and are for pasture. one for pigs.
md the other to turn horse or the
COWS when we wish to do so.
A neighbor Of mine who has fields
100 rods long by 80 rods wide finds that
IN blowing, narrowing and cultivating
three days work the long way accom-
pl shes MS much AS four and half the
short way. Another neighbor with u
quarter section dispensed in the last
two years with one mile of fence. throw
ng the farm into four fields Of 35 to 81
acres each. leaving some Is acres for
convenient lots near the barn. After
two wears test he tells me he would
moi have the fences put back if done
free Of cost. The losses of time in
turning. of material in construction. of
keeping up repairs. and of the use of
land occupied by them, are heavy
self-imposed tax on many farms and
in addition is the annoyance of keeping
them clear of weeds and brars. or the
farm is disfigured and seeded by them.
A good fence to turn all kinds of stock
will cost not far from 81 rod. and
will need renewing several times in an
ordinary lifetime
The farmer who can dispense with
mile of fence aud add BY so doing TWEEN
ty-iive per cent TO the work his team
can do in a day. and at the same time
make the work easier for his team (for
turning is harder than walking) is GER
taInly doing good thing for himself
SO advise the abolishing of as many
fences AS possible, and feel sure that
three-fourths of the farmers in many
localities need this advice.
Next, use only good material in
fence-making. The cost of building is
usually twenty-five per cent of the first
cost OF a board or wire fence. and it
makes great difference whether this
must be done every ten years or only
once in twenty years. Besides there is
moro danger of stock becoming breachy
and damaging crops when fences are
out Of repair.
In keeping up fences it is the "stitch
in time that saves nine" There are
always DAYS through the year in which
the land cannot be worked, and these
should be taken advantage of to pass
along the lines of fence and drive
nail where needed or slraighten up the
post that is leaning. II fence must
remain long on the same land, begin in
time to keep down briers and sprouts.
Birds drop seeds OF the berries and tree
seeds get scattered along the line OF
fence. and il takes but little neglect to
start thickel; but il from the start YOU
90 over the fence rows twice year it
is comparatively easy to keep them neat
and good shape.
am afraid of barbed wire where
horses must be turned, rs i have known
many valuable horses killed or blen-
sbcd by il; but it is safe for cattle il
well made. ! have also found plain
wire to turn cattle or horses when
single strip of board is used with it near
the top. In all wire-fcncc building the
thorough bracing of the end posts is Of
first importance. On small farms
VIII oh are not well suited to corn grow
ing great saving can be made by
fencing a lot for the hogs and making
the other fences TO turn horses and cat
tie only. Two boards and one wire
will turn them and save at least TWEEN.
ty-five per cent of the cost of the fence
and on level land the two boards alone
will answer il two burrows are ylowed
on each side of the fence and the earth
thrown in ridge under the fence, for
this makes a ditch for the stock to step
in when they come near enough to the
fence to jump. and makes il next to inn
possible for them to jump the fence.
This fence question deserves more
thought and study than most farmers
have given il.